Tech’s layoffs are popularly thought to be because of over-hiring during the pandemic, but in fact there isn’t much evidence that tech over-hired based on past rates. Then, Microsoft still has a metaverse strategy, it just doesn’t involve hardware.
Twitter Timelines, Azure and OpenAI, Apple and China
Introducing the Greatest Of All Talk, a new addition to the Stratechery Plus bundle. Then, more on Twitter and Microsoft/OpenAI, plus the Financial Times covers Apple and China.
Meta’s EU Fine; First-Party versus Third-Party Data, Redux; The EU’s First Party Imposition
The EU’s latest ruling against Meta is different than ATT because it is an attack on first party data and a company’s ability to make money.
AI and the Big Five
Given the success of existing companies with new epochs, the most obvious place to start when thinking about the impact of AI is with the big five: Apple, Amazon, Facebook, Google, and Microsoft.
An Interview with Daniel Gross and Nat Friedman about ChatGPT and the Near-Term Future of AI
An interview with Daniel Gross and Nat Friedman about ChatGPT and the near-term future of AI, Apple’s huge opportunity, the importance of bias, and the GPU paradox.
FTC Fines Epic, Netflix Ads, YouTube and the NFL
Epic’s FTC settlement is a reminder about the value of the App Store. Then, Netflix’s ad weakness is disappointing but not surprising, while the YouTube/NFL deal could have been worse for cable companies and other leagues.
The App Store and the Digital Markets Act, Third-Party App Stores, Messaging Interoperability Madness
The impact of the Digital Markets Act on App Stores and messaging.
Apple iCloud Encryption, CSAM Scanning and Convergent Encryption
Apple announced end-to-end encryption for iCloud, even as it officially abandoned its on-device CSAM-scanning approach; the details of its plan leave open the door for scanning in the cloud.
An Interview with Coinbase Founder and CEO Brian Armstrong about FTX and Crypto Realities
An interview with Coinbase founder and CEO Brian Armstrong about FTX, the value (or not) of crypto, and whether or not this current downturn is different.
TSMC in Arizona, Arizona Challenges, Realities and Motivations
There is a lot of excitement about TSMC’s announcements in Arizona, but the reality is a bit more grim, even if the motivations of everyone involved are understandable.